Using OPTRANS object as a KB-DSS development environment for designing DSS for production management

In this paper we briefly recall the objectives of knowledge-based decision support system (KB-DSS) development environments. Some key design characteristics of OPTRANS object, a KB-DSS development environment are introduced. We present a production planning problem and we show how two approaches to solve this problem can be implemented using OPTRANS object. The resulting DSS application uses a simulation solution and an optimisation solution. By using this example, the advantages of such an environment compared to other implementation tools are highlighted. Some observations are made on the use of this application and on how to widen the scope of the problem and references are made to other applications which demonstrate other characteristics of the development environment.